Looking for a dependable, stomach-friendly way to fortify your immune system year-round? NOW® C-1000 Zinc Immune pairs high-potency Vitamin C (1,000 mg) with Albion™ TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate (15 mg elemental zinc) in a clean, vegetarian capsule. Unlike ordinary drugstore formulas that use hard-to-digest mineral salts, this targeted synergy delivers essential immune defense without gastrointestinal distress.
At a Glance: Why This Formula Stands Out
✓Double-Barreled Immune Defense: Combines 1,000 mg of Vitamin C (1,111% DV) with 15 mg of elemental Zinc (136% DV) for optimal cellular and antibody protection.
✓Clinically Proven Zinc Absorption: Formulated with genuine TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate, a chelated form proven to absorb 43.4% better than standard zinc gluconate without stomach upset.
✓6-Month Value Supply: Each bottle contains 180 vegetarian capsules (Item # N0695 / UPC: 733739006950), providing a complete 180-day supply at a single capsule daily.
✓Zero Unwanted Additives: Vegan, non-GMO, kosher, halal, and free of wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts.
✓Verified Authentic Heritage: Distributed by VitaNet®, LLC, an independent, family-owned Ohio retailer serving health-conscious customers online since 1995 with an A+ BBB rating[cite: 1].
MSRP: $27.99 | VitaNet Everyday Discount Price: $15.40 (Save 45%) | Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $100 and risk-free 100% money-back guarantee[cite: 1].
The Synergistic Science: How Vitamin C and Zinc Protect Your Body in Plain English
Many people know that Vitamin C and Zinc are good for immunity, but few understand how they function as a biological team. Think of your immune system as a 24-hour security force defending a facility. To keep intruders out, you need both sturdy outer walls and fast, responsive guards inside.
1. Vitamin C: The Cellular Shield & Fuel Source
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) acts like a cellular bodyguard. When your body is exposed to everyday environmental stress or cold weather, your cells produce harmful reactive oxygen molecules called free radicals. Vitamin C donates electrons to neutralize these free radicals before they can damage your tissues. Beyond antioxidant protection, human white blood cells actively pull Vitamin C out of the bloodstream to power their movement toward foreign invaders (a process known as chemotaxis) and stimulate natural killer cell activity.
Clinical Reference: Peer-reviewed research published in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism (Wintergerst, Maggini, & Hornig, 2006; 50:85–94) confirms that adequate dietary concentrations of Vitamin C and Zinc are essential for sustaining natural killer cell activity, lymphocyte proliferation, and mucosal integrity, significantly reducing the duration and severity of seasonal respiratory challenges.
2. Zinc: The Master Signaling Key
While Vitamin C fuels the soldiers, Zinc coordinates their communication. Zinc is an essential trace mineral involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the human body. Without adequate zinc, white blood cells cannot mature properly or manufacture antibodies. Zinc acts like a communication switch that activates your body's T-lymphocytes (specialized immune cells) to identify and disarm seasonal threats before they gain ground.
Taking Vitamin C and Zinc together creates a complete biological defense cycle: Vitamin C safeguards the integrity of your cells, while Zinc ensures your immune communication remains sharp and responsive.
The Mineral Form Matters: Why TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate Outperforms Cheap Zinc Salts
If you have ever taken an ordinary zinc tablet and experienced a sudden wave of nausea or stomach cramps, you are not alone. Most low-cost store-brand supplements use inexpensive inorganic forms such as zinc sulfate or zinc oxide.
The Problem with Generic Zinc Salts
When generic zinc salts reach your stomach, your stomach acid rapidly breaks them apart into raw zinc electrical ions. These free mineral ions irritate the sensitive lining of the stomach wall, trigger feelings of nausea, and bind with dietary compounds like phytates (found in grains and nuts) that lock up the mineral so your intestines cannot absorb it.
The Patented TRAACS™ Chelation Breakthrough
NOW® solves this problem by using TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate (developed by Albion™ Laboratories, a global leader in mineral nutrition). TRAACS stands for The Real Amino Acid Chelate System. In this patented design, one elemental zinc atom is bound securely between two organic molecules of glycine (the simplest amino acid).
✓ Gentle on Digestion: Because the mineral is fully shielded inside amino acids, it does not ionize in stomach acid, preventing the nausea common to other zinc supplements.
✓ Superior Absorption Route: The human intestine absorbs this molecule intact through specialized peptide pathways, bypassing normal mineral competition and dietary blockers.
Clinical Validation: In a randomized, cross-over human bioavailability trial published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research (Gandia et al., 2007; 77(4):243–248), oral administration of Zinc Bisglycinate produced a statistically significant 43.4% increase in zinc blood bioavailability (AUC) compared to zinc gluconate, while demonstrating superior clinical safety and gastrointestinal tolerance.
Because dietary supplements are ingested daily to support health, ingredient purity and absence of contaminants are our quality standards. Many online marketplace brands cut corners by relying on unverified third-party certificates of analysis (COAs) provided by offshore suppliers. NOW® operates on an entirely different level of scientific rigor.
Over 31,000 Tests Per Month in ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Laboratories
NOW® operates world-class analytical and microbiological laboratories that hold prestigious ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). Their team of dedicated chemists and microbiologists conducts more than 31,000 individual analyses and tests every single month across raw materials, blending phases, and finished batches.
State-of-the-Art Analytical Instruments Utilized:
ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry): Highly sensitive technology capable of detecting trace heavy metals—including Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, and Mercury—down to parts-per-billion (ppb) concentrations.
ICP-OES (Optical Emission Spectrometry): Used to quantify exact mineral potency, ensuring each capsule delivers precisely 15 mg of elemental zinc.
HPLC & LC-MS/MS: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Tandem Mass Spectrometry quantify active Vitamin C potency and screen for multi-residue pesticides.
GC-MS/MS: Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry verifies the absence of residual manufacturing solvents and volatile chemical contaminants.
GENE-UP® Real-Time PCR: Molecular pathogen testing that screens every batch for harmful microbes, including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli.
Contaminant Limits That Exceed Federal Standards
NOW's internal specifications for heavy metals and environmental toxins meet and often exceed strict U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines and California Proposition 65 safety levels (such as restricting lead exposure to less than 0.5 micrograms per day). In fact, NOW's public testing program won the NutraIngredients-USA Industry Initiative of the Year Award for exposing adulterated, low-potency supplements sold by unregulated sellers on major third-party platforms. When you purchase NOW products, you are receiving guaranteed potency verified by accredited analytical science.
Other Ingredients: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Stearic Acid (vegetable source), and Silicon Dioxide.
Allergen Free: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP-certified facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Note on California Proposition 65: California law requires a warning notice for trace elements that naturally occur in agricultural soil and mineral deposits, even when levels are well below federal safety thresholds. NOW's strict analytical testing ensures this formula meets both FDA federal safety limits and stringent internal quality specifications.
Optimal Usage, Dosage Guidance & Important Safety Precautions
To maximize the physiological benefit of your daily supplement, following clinically sound timing and intake guidelines is essential.
Recommended Daily Intake
Take 1 vegetable capsule daily, preferably with a substantial meal. While TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate is formulated to minimize nausea, taking fat- or protein-containing food alongside Vitamin C optimizes gastric comfort and aids in smooth intestinal transport.
Who Can Benefit Most From This Formula?
Seasonal Support Seekers: Adults seeking consistent, daily defense during winter months or seasonal weather shifts.
Vegetarians & Vegans: Plant-based eaters often absorb less dietary zinc due to high levels of phytic acid in beans and grains. Chelated zinc bisglycinate bypasses phytate interference.
Active Individuals & Athletes: High physical exertion temporarily elevates cellular oxidative stress and increases zinc loss through perspiration.
Anyone with Sensitive Digestion: Individuals who cannot tolerate conventional zinc tablets or acidic multivitamin blends.
Medical Considerations & Contraindications
While Vitamin C and Zinc are essential nutrients with high safety margins, please consider the following clinical guidelines:
Upper Intake Limits: The established Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for elemental zinc in adults is 40 mg per day. At 15 mg of elemental zinc per serving, this formula provides an effective physiological dose without risking zinc toxicity or interfering with copper levels.
Kidney Health & Stones: Individuals with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones or severe renal impairment should consult their nephrologist before taking 1,000 mg of Vitamin C daily.
Hemochromatosis: High doses of Vitamin C enhance dietary non-heme iron absorption; individuals with iron overload disorders should consult their healthcare professional.
Medication Interactions: Zinc can bind to certain prescription antibiotics (such as tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones). Separate the timing of this supplement from antibiotic intake by at least 2 to 4 hours.
Why Buy From VitaNet®, LLC? 31+ Years of Natural Health Integrity
In an era dominated by anonymous third-party online sellers and unverified storefronts, where you source your dietary supplements matters. Expired products, heat-damaged inventory, and counterfeit formulas are widespread risks on mass online marketplaces.
VitaNet®, LLC is an independent, family-owned retail operation established in 1995 and located in Hartville, Ohio[cite: 1]. With over 31 years of direct nutritional experience and deep knowledge of human biochemistry, VitaNet provides customers with genuine, freshly dated, brand-direct supplements[cite: 1].
✓ Temperature-Controlled Storage: All inventory is stored in climate-monitored facilities at 887 Edison St NW, Hartville, OH to protect delicate active nutrients from heat and humidity degradation[cite: 1].
✓ Unconditional 100% Money-Back Guarantee: VitaNet stands behind every bottle sold. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, return it for a complete refund—VitaNet even pays the return shipping cost, even on opened bottles[cite: 1]!
✓ Real Human Customer Support: Speak with knowledgeable professionals by phone at (330) 877-8786 or toll-free at 1-800-877-8702 during regular retail hours[cite: 1].
✓ Everyday Discount Value: Enjoy reliable wholesale-level pricing (45% off MSRP) across 16,000+ curated wellness products without membership fees[cite: 1].
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your personal physician before starting any new dietary supplement regimen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does NOW® C-1000 Zinc Immune differ from standard Vitamin C tablets?
Standard Vitamin C tablets contain only ascorbic acid. NOW® C-1000 Zinc Immune combines high-potency Vitamin C with 15 mg of elemental zinc in the patented TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate form. This dual formulation simultaneously supports cellular antioxidant defense and white blood cell antibody production, giving you broader seasonal immune coverage in a single daily capsule.
Why is TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate gentler on the stomach than zinc gluconate or zinc sulfate?
Ordinary zinc forms like sulfate or gluconate break apart into free ions when exposed to stomach acid, irritating the sensitive lining of the stomach and causing nausea. In TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate, the zinc atom is firmly bound between two glycine amino acid molecules. This organic chelate shield protects your stomach lining and allows the mineral to be absorbed intact via gentle peptide pathways.
Can I take this supplement every day, or only when I feel sick?
This supplement is specifically calibrated for daily maintenance. The human body does not store zinc or water-soluble Vitamin C, meaning consistent daily intake is required to maintain tissue saturation and immune readiness. At 15 mg of elemental zinc per capsule, it remains well below the adult 40 mg daily upper limit.
Will taking 15 mg of elemental zinc daily deplete my copper levels?
Copper depletion typically occurs only when taking high doses of unchelated zinc (50 mg or more per day) over long periods. At 15 mg of elemental zinc daily, this formula supports immune function without interfering with normal copper absorption. If you take additional multivitamin supplements containing zinc, check total daily intake to stay comfortably under 40 mg.
How does NOW Foods test this product for heavy metals and purity?
NOW conducts over 31,000 quality tests each month in its ISO/IEC 17025 accredited in-house laboratories. Every production lot is tested using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to detect trace heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury) down to parts-per-billion levels, ensuring adherence to strict USP and California Proposition 65 safety parameters.
Can I open the vegetable capsule and mix the contents into water or food?
Yes. The vegetable capsule (hypromellose) can be gently opened and the contents mixed into cold water, applesauce, or a smoothie. Because Vitamin C is naturally tart (citrus-like), mixing it into a flavored beverage makes it easy to swallow without altering its biological potency. Avoid blending into hot liquids, as excessive heat can degrade Vitamin C.
Why should I purchase NOW C-1000 Zinc Immune from VitaNet instead of a mass online marketplace?
Third-party online marketplaces often harbor counterfeit or improperly stored products from anonymous third-party sellers. VitaNet®, LLC is a brick-and-mortar and online retailer operating since 1995 with an A+ BBB rating[cite: 1]. You receive fresh, factory-direct inventory stored in temperature-controlled facilities, backed by real phone support and an unconditional 100% money-back guarantee that even covers return shipping[cite: 1].
